The vast majority of very high-achieving students who are low-income do not apply to any selective college or university. This is despite the fact that selective institutions would often cost them less, owing to generous financial aid, than the resource-poor two-year and non-selective four-year institutions to which they actually apply. Moreover, high-achieving, low-income students who do apply to selective institutions are admitted and graduate at high rates.

Christopher Avery, one of the authors of this study, and Derek Thompson, who wrote about it for The Atlantic, join The Daily Circuit Monday, Feb. 4 to discuss the findings.